MEM

And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb(Rev 22:1)

For His Glory!

Message

About Creativity, Gifts and Talents

Gen 1:1 (NAS unless indicated)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

That which comes from the earth goes back to the earth - Vegetation, Trees, Plants, Flowers …

Gen 1:11

Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth"; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth vegetation…

Man was also created from the earth…

Gen 2:7

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground…

Gen 3:19

…Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

That which is from Elohim

(God) will return to Him…

Gen 2:7

… and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Job 33:4

"The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Job 32:8

"But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

Eccl 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Not only does our life come from YHVH

(LORD) our talents and creativity are also His gifts

What do you have that you did not receive?

What you refer to as natural talents and abilities are gifts from The Creator. Yet how many talented people do you know that perform at a high level without putting in any effort to develop their abilities? It is human pride that would like to show up without practice or preparation and still outperform those who have been diligent. How often have you actually seen this happen? The gifts He has given you should serve to give direction to your life. They give you a path to walk forward in. Let the pursuit of them become a passion that you may excel in them and employ them to the fullest. In so doing you honor the God who gave you the gift. (Adapted from Dales Cresep’s blog)

God Made You Creative (ByAlan Gilman)

Exodus 31:3

and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,

One of the wonders of being human is our ability to create. Maybe you don’t think of yourself as creative, but creativity comes in many different forms. Not everyone is an artist, poet, or writer, but everyone is creative in one way or another. The way you speak, your work, and your imagination (yes, you have one!) are all creative to some degree. I am surprised at how many people say they are not artists, yet they love to fix things, bake, or rearrange their furniture. All these activities are creative in nature.

There is a type of creating only God can do; make something from nothing. Obviously, we can’t do that. All we can do is rearrange things that already exist. That said, what we produce didn’t really exist prior to our making it. A cake is far more than the combination of its individual ingredients. Our ability to choose the best ingredients, mix them in precise proportions, and select the right baking method makes the cake what it is.

Our involvement in the creative process is one of the signs of our being created in the image of God. When we arrange and rearrange the elements of God’s creation, we participate in a process that he initiated, and we fulfill our God-given mandate to subdue the earth. Not all forms of creativity are in keeping with the mandate, however. Due to our first parents’ rebellion against God, sin has tainted our creativity just as it has affected every other aspect of life. Therefore, we need to make sure we understand human creativity from God’s perspective.

Regardless of a person’s relationship to God, the call to create is stronger for some than for others. Some people have a deep yearning to make some sort of creative difference in the world around them. They want to make a statement or express their feelings. They want to add beauty to their lives or to the lives of others. The more we understand that these longings and the ability to carry them out find their origin in God, the better we will understand their purpose.

These abilities aren’t possessions we own, but gifts. If we accept that God is their true owner, there is a much better chance we will handle them in a way that pleases him and is most beneficial to others. Realizing that our creative yearnings come from outside our selves helps us to avoid over identifying with them and reduces the possibility of their taking control of our lives.

This is good news for those who are frustrated with their creativity, whether you struggle in how you express your gifts or wish you were far more creative than you think you are. In either case, since creativity doesn’t originate with us, we can go to the One in whom it does. God can (and I believe will) help you. He can even give you creative abilities that you have only dreamed of until now.

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Here is a historical sketch of creativity given to one that was blind - and was used.

(Taken from) The One Year Christian History - E. Michael and Sharon Rusten

Did you know that the author of many of your favorite hymns was blind?

Fanny Crosby was born in 1820 in Putnam County, New York. When she was just six weeks old, she caught a cold that caused inflammation in her eyes. When her parents called their family doctor, He was not at home and someone else came in his place. This stranger recommended that hot poultices be placed on her eyes, which tragically resulted in the loss of her eyesight. As news spread about her blindness, the man quickly left town and was never heard of again. Misfortune continued to follow the family as death claimed Fanny’s father when she was but one year old.

When her grandmother first heard of Fanny’s blindness, she said, "Then I will be her eyes." She became an important part of Fanny’s life, spending hours describing flowers, birds, and beautiful sunsets to the little girl. Another important person entered Fanny’s life, when she was nine years old-a Mrs. Hawley, who schooled her in poetry and the Bible. Fanny spent much time memorizing both. By the age of ten she had memorized whole books of the Bible.

When Fanny was fifteen, she entered the Institution for the Blind in New York City. She studied there for seven years and then returned to teach at the school for eleven years. While a student there she developed her talent for writing verse. She was never proficient in Braille but rather depended upon her phenomenal memory. She composed and edited poems in her head.

In the fall of 1850 revival meetings were being held at the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City. Fanny and some of her friends went every night. Twice she went forward at the altar call but could not find the peace and joy she craved. On November 20, 1850, Fanny went forward for a third time, all by herself. The congregation was singing the old Isaac Watts hymn "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed." Fanny was filled with joy and shouted, "Hallelujah!" She had given herself to her Savior.

She fell in love with Alexander Van Alstyne, a blind musician she met in the school for the blind. They married when she was thirty-eight and had one child, which died in infancy. Fanny kept her maiden name, which was unusual for the time and was referred to as "Mrs. Crosby" for the rest of her life.

Fanny did not start writing hymns until eleven years after her conversion but then became one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. She wrote nearly nine thousand hymns before her death in 1915. Her well-known hymns include "Blessed Assurance," "Rescue the Pershing," "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross," "Pass Me Not," "Praise Him, Praise Him," "Saved by Grace," and "To God Be the Glory." Approximately sixty of her hymns are still in common use.

In addition to her hymn writing, Fanny Crosby was a popular speaker and traveled throughout the world. She went to the White House as guest of Presidents John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Grover Cleveland. Her friends included many famous people, such as Horace Greeley, Henry Clay, and Jenny Lind. In spite of her fame, Fanny never missed an opportunity to present the gospel message to anyone who would listen.

Fanny Crosby never wanted sympathy because of her blindness. When a minister once expressed regret that God had not given her the gift of sight, her startling reply was, "If I had been given a choice at birth, I would have asked to be blind… for when I get to heaven, the first face I will see will be the One who died for me."

Reflections

Is there something about your appearance or your abilities that you would like to change? Fanny Crosby accepted herself just as she was, and God was able to use her mightily. What we see as limitations in our lives aren’t limitations to God.

John 9:1

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 "Teacher," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?" … 3 "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.

*****

Yeshua’s message includes a parable about talents. You know that this was a measure of money in the original text, and in the context of the story. You also think of talents as special gifts or abilities. Yet it was no accident that this passage was translated into this term. Are we open to considering this parable with our understanding of the word 'talent'? Do you assume that any person’s talents are fixed at birth, and that they can develop what they have, but not acquire new ones? But in this story the servants took the talents they had and acquired new ones. He tells us to desire the greater gifts and would not encourage us to do so if He were not willing to give them to us. We should be looking for new dimensions in which to grow and develop throughout our whole life, for He will bless our efforts and give them to us, that we may be a vessel equipped for every good work. (Adopted from Dales Cresep’s blog)

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Parable of the Talents:

Matt 25:15

"And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.

Matt 25:16

"Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master's money.

Matt 25:19

"Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.' 22 The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

Matt 25:24

"And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'

Matt 25:29

"For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

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Food for thought

John 4:10

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

Rom 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eph 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Acts 2:38

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jas 1:17

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

1Cor 7:7

… However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

1Cor 13:2

And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:4

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Eph 4:7

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

1Pet 4:10

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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YHVH grant us the wisdom to develop and increase in the gifts You have given by serving.

Proverbs

About gifts from YHVH

Proverbs 1:23

"Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

Proverbs 29:23

A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

YHVH will give us a spirit that is worthy of honoring Him if we humbly seek after Him.

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Eternal One let us be quick to yield at Your reproof by allowing You to search our innermost thoughts.

Saying(s)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be - brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a Child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson, in A Return to Love (Quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech)

Everyone is gifted to show forth the glory of the Creator. Use your talents and gifts to reflect Him.

John 3:27

John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.

John 6:63

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

John 15:5

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

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Almighty Elohim, You have created us to be in Your likeness and Your image - Your will be done.

Bible Quiz

In the parable of the lost coin, how many silver coins did the woman have?

Which Gospel is referred to as the Gospel of action?

Where was the tower of Babel?

For what two good reasons should one submit to the authorities?

What did Pharaoh order the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah to do?

Name the ruler of the synagogue whose daughter Yeshua raised from the dead?

Who said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven"?

Humility

In our pursuit of humility:

(Lessons from humility and happiness)

"Let us trust Him who took care of Paul (i.e. the thorn in his flesh). He watches over us with a jealous, loving care, lest we exalt ourselves. When we do this, He seeks to show us the evil of it and to deliver us from it. Through trials and failures and troubles, He seeks to bring us to the place where His grace is everything. His strength is made perfect in our weakness; His presence fills and satisfies our emptiness; and becomes the secret of humility." Andrew Murray

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We have the assurance that he will never leave us or forsake us or try us beyond what is needed to be developed in the image of Yeshua.

John 14:18

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

1Cor 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

Rom 8:29

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…

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Father, let us not be distracted by the frailties of this life but to totally trust in You - Amen.

Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

Ps 65:2

O You who hear prayer, To You all men come.

Ps 66:19

But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

Ps 66:20

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me.

Ps 69:13

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.

Ps 72:12

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

14

He will rescue their life from oppression and violence; And their blood will be precious in his sight; 15 So may he live; … And let them pray for him continually; Let them bless him all day long.

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YHVH, You care for us even if we are not paying attention yet when we are in communion with You, You hear.

Heart of God

How does God feel about issues we face today?

Purposeful Talents

If you examine your life closely you will see that you have some special ability in which you excel. This may not be something that is widely valued or lucrative. It may not be something that is highly visible to bring fame and the recognition of men, but in God’s love for all and His generosity, creativity, and impartiality He has neglected no one in His distribution of talents. Do you know what yours is? You honor the giver of your gift when you develop and exercise it, and if you look to God you will sense His pleasure when you do so. He put the desire in you to lead you into your destiny. Delight yourself in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart. But what is the main purpose of your God given talents, abilities, and gifts. Do you think they are for you? He has given you the illustration of your relationship to others as members of a body. Every member of a body serves some vital purpose for the good of the whole. None exists in isolation, and none exists to serve its own interests alone. If you are gifted to write, it is so others may read. If you create beauty it is for others to enjoy. If you minister life, it is that others may receive life, even as you also receive life from them. You should be grateful for what God has given you and eager to use it. Be unselfish with it, for it is blessed to give. (Adopted from blog posts by Dale Cresap)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

(1 Peter 4:10)

By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

(Acts 20:35)

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

Did you know?

The year is

1910, over one hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes!

Here are some statistics for the Year 1910:

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.Fuel for the car was sold in drug stores.Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year,
a veterinarianbetween $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about
$5,000 per year.More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press
AND the government as 'substandard.'Sugar cost four cents a pound.Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.The Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. StrokeThe American flag had 45 stars.The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was only 30!Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.There was no Mother's Day or Father's DayTwo out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had
graduated from high school.Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates
the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U. S. A.!

Simple Bible QuizJ. Vernon Jacobs

A fleeing man, a task, a ship,

A storm that tore the sails,

A _______ sleeping down below,

A journey that must fail.

(See end of MEM)

Lighter Side

WHY OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE SO HIGH!!!

Kevin had shingles. Those of us who spend much time in a doctor's office should appreciate this! Doesn't it seem more and more that physicians are running their practices like an assembly line?

Here's what happened to Kevin: Kevin walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had. Kevin said: 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Kevin what he had. Kevin said, 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Kevin to wait in the examining room.

A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Kevin what he had. Kevin said, 'Shingles.' So the nurse gave Kevin a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Kevin to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later the doctor came in and found Kevin sitting patiently in the nude and asked Kevin what he had. Kevin said, 'Shingles.' The doctor asked, 'Where?' Kevin said, 'Outside on the truck. Where do you want me to unload 'em??'

I have a little Garmin
It sits there in my car
A Garmin is a driver's friend
It tells you where you are

I have a little Garmin
I've had it all my life
It's better than the normal ones
My Garmin is my wife

It gives me full instructions
Especially how to drive
"It's thirty miles an hour", it says
"You're doing thirty five"

It tells me when to stop and start
And when to use the brake
And tells me that it's never ever
Safe to overtake.

It tells me when a light is red
And when it goes to green
It seems to know instinctively
Just when to intervene.

It lists the vehicles just in front
And all those to the rear
And taking this into account
It specifies my gear.

I'm sure no other driver
Has so helpful a device
For when we leave and lock the car
It still gives its advice.

It fills me up with counselling
Each journey's pretty fraught
So why don't I exchange it
And get a quieter sort?

Despite all these advantages
And my tendency to scoff,
I do wish that once in a while
I could turn the thing off!

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Have a good day!

Cause and Effect

Scribbles

Michael Boldea Jr.

(edited)

Using what we have been given - looking for an opportunity to share our gifts.

Shortly before returning to the States, on an ordinary day like so many others we trudge through, my wife had asked me to go buy some milk and eggs. I had left my apartment, walked out to the main thoroughfare, but before I could turn right - a man sitting on a bench at the bus stop caught my eye.

He was an older gentleman, wearied, haggard, and lost in his misery. He had a grizzled beard, wore a tattered suit that had seen better days, and though there were dozens of individuals passing him by, none gave him a second glance. That seemed fine with the man. He wasn’t people watching. From the way he leaned forward onto the piece of gnarled wood I supposed he used for a cane, I could see the man was also in a great pain…

Oftentimes we look at these divine appointments as nothing more than flukes or chance encounters, but being one who does not believe in accidental occurrences, being one who believes vehemently in the idea that our steps are ordained of God, and those who come across our path do so at His will, I am ever vigilant not to miss any of the opportunities He presents me with to make a difference in someone’s life.

…You could have pretended as though you did not see, but you chose to stop, and look, and act… I can buy the milk and eggs another time.

With love in Christ

Michael Boldea Jr.

www handofhelp.com

Consider

You can’t spend yourself into prosperity

Ideas are funny little things; they don’t work unless you do

Beauty is but skin deep; it’s the beauty of the soul that outshines the fairest skin

Remember, the sun is always shining somewhere

Knowledge has no power until it’s used

Bytes

Purposeful Skills*

And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.

(Exodus 31:6)

The Torah teaches that creative skill is derived from God. The Hebrew word for skill is "ha-ham'" and is often translated "wisdom." Wisdom is the ability (the word used in the verse above) to apply knowledge in effective practical ways. So in English, if referring to a life decision, ha-ham is wisdom; if business strategy, it's shrewdness; if making things, it's skill.

In the context of this Torah portion, we see how in this case God gives skill to certain people for a stated purpose: "that they may make all that I have commanded you."

Is it possible that "that they may make all that I have commanded you" is applicable to every skill each one of us possesses? Clearly God gave these particular craftsmen a skill for a specifically stated purpose. But is every skill God bestows on all human beings given to us solely for his purposes? While we may accept God as Creator and that nothing exists that doesn't originate with him, how personal does this get?

Torah teaches that the creation is not impersonal and random. On the contrary, it is the result of God's intentional design. Humans were brought into being for an expressed purpose, which according to Genesis 1:26 was to take care of the planet, a mandate that has never been rescinded - thwarted by evil, but not rescinded.

Is it not reasonable then to assume that the creator God would instill in people the abilities necessary for the fulfillment of his purpose? Since ability isn't derived from nothing, it must have its origins in the Creator. Skill can be enhanced through training, but the core ability from which skill is derived must be present in potential form first, a potential given to us by God.

But sheer talent is not the same as possessing the necessary wisdom required to use our talents effectively. This might be the key to discover how best to use our God-given talents. Skill is more than simply performing tasks well, but performing tasks well within the context or contexts God has ordained for us. The Tabernacle's craftsmen could have used their skill for all sorts of things and would have most likely done excellent work, and there were likely times before and after the building of the Tabernacle when making other things would have been appropriate.

But what constitutes appropriate? That takes us back to the general mandate in Genesis. Until we receive specific directives like those received by the Tabernacle craftsmen, we need to remember that the abilities entrusted to us are gifts of responsibility to serve the overall purpose of God. And since wisdom too is God's gift (James 1:5), then we would do well to diligently seek him regarding the use of our talents. You might be surprised at the clarity you receive, if you are open to receive it.

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By Alan Gilman
TorahBytes Communications

*(This document may be edited for length)

Psalm Promise

Psalm 138:3

On the day I called Thou didst answer me; Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul.

What better gift can we have than the assurance that He hears us and supply’s all our needs?

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Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20

And blessed be God Most High…)

Essence of the Message

James 1:17

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

Quiz Answers

1. Ten - Luke 15:8

2. Mark

3. On the plain in Shinar - Genesis 11:1-9

4. Because of possible punishment and for conscience sake - Romans 13:5